Method of and device for introducing fluids into a patient&#39;s body

ABSTRACT

A method of introducing a fluid into a patient&#39;s body has the steps of accommodating the fluid in a plastic container, connecting an introducer to the plastic container so that the fluid can flow from the plastic container through the introducer into a patient&#39;s body, and arranging an adsorbing material between the plastic container and the introducer so that the fluid flows from the plastic container first through the adsorbing material, at least some toxins from the fluid are adsorbed by and retained on the adsorbing material, while the fluid purified from at least some toxins is introduced by the introducer into a patient&#39;s body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of and device forintroducing fluids into a patient's body.

[0002] It is known that various fluids are introduced into a patient'sbody for prophylaxis and treatment, such as blood, nutrient solution,medications, etc. Usually the fluids are introduced from plasticcontainers. It has been found that the plastic materials of thecontainers is subjected to deterioration with resulting discharge ofchemical components into the fluid, which components thereafter areentrained in the fluids and introduced in the patient's body and causesignificant negative effects. Such components are for example furfurals,etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea method of and a device for introduction of fluids into a patient'sbody which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0004] In keeping with these objects and with others which will becomeapparent hereinafter, one feature of present invention resides in amethod of introducing a fluid into a patient's body, comprising thesteps of holding a fluid in a plastic container; connecting the plasticcontainer with an introducing element through which the fluid isintroduced from the plastic container into a patient's body; andarranging between the plastic container and the introducer an adsorbingmaterial through which the fluid passes so that at least some toxinscontained in the fluid are adsorbed by the adsorbing material and thefluid purified from at least some of toxins is introduced into thepatient's body through the introducer.

[0005] It is another feature of the present invention to provide anintroducing device which has a plastic container for accommodating afluid; an introducer connected to said plastic container so that thefluid from said plastic container is introduced into said introducer andby said introducer into the patient's body; an adsorbing materiallocated between said plastic container and said introducer so that atleast some toxins contained in the fluid are adsorbed by the adsorbingmaterial and the fluid purified from at least some of toxins isintroduced into the patient's body through the introducer.

[0006] When the method is performed and the device is designed inaccordance with the present invention, then a fluid which is introducedinto the body into the patient's body is first purified by the adsorbingmaterial which adsorbs and retains at least some toxins from the fluid,and then the purified fluid is introduced in the patient's body.

[0007] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for thepresent invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will be best understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a method of and a device forintroducing fluids into a patient's body in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a method of and a device inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0010]FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a method of and a device inaccordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1 an introducing device has a container in whicha fluid to be introduced into a patient's body is accommodated and isidentified as a whole with reference numeral 1. The container 1 iscomposed of a plastic material, as known per se in the art.

[0012] The introducing device further has an introducer which isidentified as a whole with reference numeral 2. The introducer can beformed as any introducing instrument, such as a syringe, a needle, etc.which is also well known in the art. The introducer 2 is connected withthe plastic container 1 by a connecting line 3.

[0013] In accordance with the present invention, the introducing deviceis provided with an adsorbing material which is identified as a wholewith reference numeral 4. The adsorbing material is located between theplastic container 1 and the introducer 2, so that when the fluid flowsfrom the plastic container 1 to the introducer 2, it passes through theadsorbing material 4, The adsorbing material is selected so that itadsorbs toxic components, which can be discharged by the plasticmaterial of the container 1, for example for furfurais, etc. For thispurpose the adsorbing material 4 can be for example a material composedof porous hydrophobic divinylbenzene copolymer which initially hassurface exposed vinyl groups in which thereafter the vinyl groups arechemically modified so as to form different surface exposed functionalgroups which are hydrophilic and biocompatible, as disclosed for examplein U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,087,300; 6,114,466; 6,133,393; 6,136,424, and6,157,707. This material can be produced in the same as disclosed in theabove listed patents, which are incorporated here by means of areference.

[0014] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the adsorbing material isaccommodated in a portion of the line 3. It can be inserted in theportion of the line 3, or can be formed as small container, cartridge,etc. located in a certain region of the line and connected to anupstream part of the line and a downstream part of the linecorrespondingly, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0015]FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the inventive introducingdevice. The device also has the plastic container 1, the introducer 2,the line connecting the plastic container 1 with the introducer 2, andthe adsorbing material 4. Here, however, the adsorbing material 4 isassociated with the plastic container 1. For example, it can be arrangedon the bottom of the plastic container 1, so that when the plasticcontainer is being emptied, the fluid passes first through the adsorbingmaterial 4 before entering the line 3, and thereby the toxins from thefluid are adsorbed by and retained in the adsorbing material 4.

[0016] The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is substantially similar to theembodiment shown in the preceding figures with some distinction. Inparticular, the device shown in FIG. 3 also has the plastic container 1,the introducer 2, the connecting line 3 and the adsorbing material 4.However, in this embodiment the adsorbing material 4 is associated withthe introducer 3. In particular, it can be arranged immediately upstreamof the introducer and connected to it or inserted in an upper portion ofthe introducer 2. In this device, the fluid which flows from the plasticcontainer 1 through the line 3 is detoxified before entering theintroducer 2, since toxins from the fluid are adsorbed by and retainedon the adsorbing material 4, while the purified fluid flows into theintroducer 2 and then into the body of the patient.

[0017] It will be understood that each of the elements described above,or two or more together, may also find a useful application in othertypes of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0018] While the invention has been illustrated and described asembodied in method of and device for introducing fluids into a patient'sbody, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0019] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal thegist of the present invention that others can, by applying currentknowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omittingfeatures that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of thisinvention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A method of introducing a fluidinto a patient's body, comprising the steps of accommodating the fluidin a plastic container; connecting an introducer to said plasticcontainer so that the fluid can flow from said plastic container throughsaid introducer into a patient's body; and arranging an adsorbingmaterial between said plastic container and the introducer so that thefluid flows from the plastic container first through said adsorbingmaterial, at least some toxins from the fluid are adsorbed by andretained on the adsorbing material, while the fluid purified from atleast some toxins is introduced by the introducer into a patient's body.2. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a connectingline which connects said plastic container with said introducer, saidadsorbing material being arranged in substantially in said connectingline.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said adsorbing materialis associated with said plastic container.
 4. A method as defined inclaim 3, wherein said adsorbing material is associated with a bottom ofsaid plastic container so that the fluid flows from the plasticcontainer, passes through said adsorbing material, and is introducedinto the connecting line in a purified state.
 5. A method as defined inclaim 1, wherein said adsorbing material is associated with saidintroducer, so that the fluid before entering said introducer passesthrough said adsorbing material, and toxins from the fluid are adsorbedby and retained on said adsorbing material.
 6. A method as defined inclaim 5, wherein said introducer has an upstream portion, said adsorbingmaterial being arranged in said upstream portion of said introducer. 7.A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said adsorbing material is amaterial which is hydrophilic and biocompatible.
 8. A method as definedin claim 7, wherein said adsorbing material is a porous hydrophilicdivinylbenzene copolymer which initially has surface exposed vinylgroups in which thereafter the vinyl groups are chemically modified soas to form different surface exposed functional groups with a greaterhydrophilicity and greater biocompatibility than those of the vinylgroups.